Maison Des Landes Reopens After £3.8M Refurbishment

A Jersey hotel for people with disabilities is reopening after a £3.8 million refurbishment which includes a new community centre.

Maison des Landes, on the edge of the Jersey National Park at Les Landes in St Ouen, is the only hotel in the island designed specifically for people with disabilities.

Today (20 June) it reopens its doors to visitors, having been extended and modernised.

The 60 year old hotel - which is an incorporated charitable trust supported by the Lions Club of Jersey - was in need of an overhaul, according to trustee Steve Taylor:

He told Channel 103 it has been 'a long journey'  to raise the money needed to complete the work and says it is a 'huge relief' and 'very exciting' to be reopening.

"It looks absolutely fantastic.

It was starting to look a bit tired and a bit run down and so we engaged an architect, Axis Mason, and they came up with a very exciting concept for the refurbished hotel which matched with our vision."

The work has included replacing the electrics and plumbing and creating larger public spaces, such a terraces and an orangery:

There are 23 rooms and a 48-seater restaurant with a licensed bar and lounge.

People staying at the hotel can book appointments in the treatment room with a masseuse, hairdresser, nail technician and chiropodist.

"We have also spent quite a bit of money on renewing the hydro-therapy pool, which is one of only two available on a charitable basis to people in Jersey.  That has now got its own new changing facilities and it looks very smart indeed."

The hotel already has guests checking in for their island holidays.

Peter Tabb, President of Maison des Landes Council of Trustees, says they are looking forward to welcoming visitors, including islanders and their carers who need a break.

"..We recognise Jersey has a chronic shortage of facilities for people seeking respite, and Maison des Landes plans to go some way to addressing the issue by providing special rates to Jersey people booking respite breaks at the hotel."

Later this year a new Community Hub will open at Maison des Landes.

Steve Taylor says they want it to be a well-used, year-round social space:

"It's there for people who are disadvantaged by old age, infirmity or disability.  They can come and use it as a group to hold their events or they can join as individuals.  It is a venue for people to come and interact with people in similar situations."

*Photos by Andy Le Gresley.